Grammar Schools in Liverpool
The Blue Coat School is Liverpool's only selective state school, and one of very few in the country still using CEM. Its assessment is taken online, on site at the school, in two phases.
Test
The Blue Coat School entrance assessment
Provider (2027 entry)
CEM (now branded Cambridge Insight)
Test date
Phase 1: 2–4 July 2026. Phase 2: 19 September 2026
Registration
Check the school's admissions pages
What families in Liverpool need to know
- Phase 1 covers reading, spelling, general maths, mental arithmetic and developed ability. Phase 2 covers verbal, numerical and non-verbal ability.
- CEM moved to online-only delivery in 2023, which is why almost all other state grammar schools left it. Blue Coat could stay because it tests candidates on its own computers on site.
- CEM rebranded as Cambridge Insight in April 2025, with the selection exam renamed Cambridge Select Insight. The school's own documents still say CEM.
The 1 grammar school in Liverpool
Admissions details change year to year. Always confirm dates and criteria on the school's own admissions page before applying.
The Blue Coat School
Liverpool, Liverpool
Checked against council and school admissions sources on 27 August 2026
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